Located on the west coast of the North Island, approx. 2.0 hours from Auckland you’ll find Raglan, a happy little hippy town that has been called the ‘Byron Bay’ of New Zealand.

This funky little town boasts art galleries, expertly made coffees and black sand beaches but the real reason for its fame is its waves.

Raglan is known as the surf capital of New Zealand. The left hand surf break is reputed to be one of the best in the world and was featured in the classic surf film ’The Endless Summer’.

Wise locals say “to really see and feel Raglan it has to be from the water!” so make sure you get out and explore the area by paddle boarding, boat cruising, kayaking, or taking a board to the waves.

Regardless of whether you are a learner or a pro surfer, Raglan is definitely where it’s at and you’ll find the pros surfing the left hand breaks at Indicators Point, or take a lesson with the Raglan Surf School and join the learners on the smaller, rolling waves at Whale Bay (aptly named as whales migrate past Raglan every year). You’ll be riding the waves in no time!

Get back on dry land and soak in the sights of the rich native bush, marvel at the majestic Bridal Veil Falls, relax on the beach or just sip a takeaway flat white (coffee) as you explore the art galleries in town.

Be sure to finish your day with fish ‘n’ chips on the beach and a stunning Raglan sunset. Don’t miss Raglan from your New Zealand itinerary.

Getting there
If you have a car, it’s easy. From Auckland head south on Highway 1 to Hamilton and then Highway 23 to Raglan. For those of you without a car, Raglan is the first overnight stop on Stray’s southbound route out of Auckland. Stray is New Zealand's flexible bus network for adventurous travellers. The hop-on hop-off adventure bus visits ‘off the beaten track’ destinations across the country. Passes are valid for 12months so you can spend time in the places you like. Find out more at straytravel.com.

Stray further off the beaten track in New Zealand! #StrayFurther

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New Zealand's award-winning freestyle bus tours for adventurous travellers. Stray is all about getting further off the beaten track, with a focus on unique destinations, local culture and adventure. See more & Do more - Your time, your way!